John Wall Expected to Sign Designated Player Contract Extension

One of the biggest questions surrounding the Washington Wizards may soon be resolved. Team owner Ted Leonsis said Wednesday he's confident John Wall will sign a long-term extension with the Wizards, the Washington Post's Candace Buckner reported.

"My prediction is John Wall will sign his extension," Leonsis said, per Buckner. "He wants to be here, and my goal is to have no drama."  

Since he made the All-NBA third team, Wall is eligible for the designated player extension. ESPN.com's Brian Windhorst reported July 1 the Wizards offered the four-time All-Star the supermax, which would pay him about $170 million over four years.

Last month, Wall told the Washington Post's Tim Bontemps he wasn't in a hurry to accept the offer.

"I just want to kind of see what [the Wizards] do throughout free agency, talk to my family, talk to my agency and my managers and see what we want to do," he said. "It's definitely a place I want to be. … I've just got to make sure things are going in the right direction, and make sure we are building the team in the way we want to be, and don't get locked up in a situation where you might not feel comfortable."

While Wall is signed for two more years, this summer has illustrated having a player under contract can provide little long-term security for a team. The Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers traded Jimmy Butler and Paul George for what was arguably pennies on the dollar because it became clear the pair didn't intend to re-sign with their current teams.

Should Wall not sign the designated player extension, the Wizards may soon face a difficult decision: They could trade Wall while his value remains high or bank everything on the hope he re-signs at a later date.

The stakes couldn't be much higher for Washington, and Wall would be taking a big risk himself by turning down Washington's offer.

He's coming off a career year in which he averaged 23.1 points and 10.7 assists a game. By making another All-NBA team, he'd be eligible for another DPE that's even more lucrative than what he can make now. On the other hand, he could possibly cost himself tens of millions if he fails to replicate his success from the past season.